Android Auto and Apple CarPlay finally have some real competition

• You use fewer apps than you think in your car
• Preparing for the future is paramount
• The platform is constantly improving itself

The infotainment wars are officially in full swing, and one company you might not be too familiar with is making its holistic in-car infotainment suite irresistible.

Harman Automotive is a subsidiary of Samsung, and while many already appreciate its audio expertise through brands like Harman Kardon, JBL, AKG, and more, the average consumer might not be aware of how big a player the company is positioning itself to be in the battle for the newest screens we spend ample time in front of—the ones in our cars. It’s no secret that manufacturer concerns around third-party platforms like CarPlay and Android Auto are growing, and with companies like General Motors opting to drop them entirely, more controversy is sure to follow.

That’s why, at its recent Harman Explore event at its exhibition offices in Michigan, I went up close and personal with Harman and its Ready Link Marketplace.

You use fewer apps than you think in your car

But even still, Ready Link Marketplace has you covered

When I last spoke to Huibert Verhhoeven, Harman’s SVP of its Digital Cockpit experience, Ready Link Marketplace featured just around 150 apps. That was back in August 2025. Now, the platform boasts closer to 200 apps, all designed specifically for automotive use, thanks to some handy tools that Ready Link Marketplace provides its developers.

The same apps we use every day are available on the Marketplace, too, including your favorite audiobook apps and, of course, Spotify. Harman is even working to bring Apple Music to the platform, which will undoubtedly please many potential users. What’s more, while Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store boast millions of apps between the two of them, how many do you actually use? Now, think about how many you actually use while driving? There’s no way to match the sheer number of apps offered by either platform, but there is a way to improve the experience of using necessary apps while driving, and that’s the approach Harman is taking with the Ready Link Marketplace.

Preparing for the future is paramount

And it stretches all the way to your dashboard

One of the largest draws of Harman’s Ready suite is that it runs on the Android Automotive Operating System, which is expected to be standard in 70% ofproduction cars by 2030. In fact, some drivers are already benefiting from Ready Link Marketplace, as CARIAD and Harman announced a collaboration in 2024 that has led to several Volkswagen Group models implementing the Marketplace technology in the 2025 model year. If your Volkswagen or Audi car can download apps without using the App Store or Play Store, there’s a good chance it’s because of Harman.

Currently, this feature works with a subscription model. However, as with most features such as this, as model years pass, it could very well become standard equipment for various groups throughout the automotive landscape. As brands using the Ready Link Marketplace continue to grow, expect feature availability to do the same.

The platform is constantly improving itself

OTA updates are the new normal

One thing manufacturers love is the ability to improve upon or make money off a product even after it sells, and with Over the Air Updates, companies can do just that. Ready Link Marketplace operates just like the App Store and Play Store: if an app is developed or added to the storefront during a car’s life cycle, it can easily be added to the car well after the actual sale. Software updates aren’t exactly new tech, but the extent to which they’ve been used in the automotive landscape is still untapped.

If you think this is all a waste of time and market research, think again. Automakers are increasingly concerned about their customers’ data and its value, and aren’t keen on handing access to that data to a third party. The year of the infotainment wars is upon us, and Harman might just have a leg up on the competition.